I'll Remember

chapter 3: My Hero

I'll Remember

Chapter 3

My Hero

Glass, metal, screams, pain, blood, oh that was super painful. John realized that he was looking at a screaming face reaching out for him as he flew through the windshield. The seatbelt had snapped. But...12 years of police experience told him that his seatbelt didn't break. That was a slice...metal? Perhaps.

He grunted as he hit the ground and cartwheeled into some trees, laying on his side before rolling over. Breathing came in gasps as he tried his best to get enough air into his lungs. He heard his name from far off in the woods. It was from the car as it disappeared over the edge of the embankment into even more trees.

But then everything stopped and he was fine. He looked around the wooded area. The car had stopped in mid air and he was looking into the eyes of the woman he called sister. Blood caking one side of her face, she was horrified. Her body curled protectively around her midsection. It likely saved Penny. The music still blared from the speakers. Hero of the Day by Metallica. His sister's taste in music was a slide from his. He was more smooth jazz than rock. But she was the one who...

There was a soft cry not too far away from where the car had stopped. John walked over to the now mangled car. Blood splattered the window. He heard the cry become more insistent. He looked within the car to see an infant in his sister's arms.

"John..." Her sister coughed up blood all over the console and looked up at him. "They're going to kill her too..." She reached out for him, he took her hand and she pulled him closer. If he got any closer he'd be in the front seat with her.

"Who? Who will kill her?" John asked as he looked down at the little girl who seemed to be melting in her mothers arms. John went to grab his niece only to pull back. His fingers went through her like she was water.

"Claw...Dr. Claw..." they both liquified and hit the grassy ground around his feet. ~

John sat up in bed and looked around hearing the sky rumble and the rain hit the window. Penny's soft cries filled his senses. The sweat beaded up around John's body. How he wished he could just lay there and think about what he had heard. Dr. Claw...was that his real name or something his dream cooked up?

"Shhhh Penny..." He whispered slowly standing up so as not to startle her. Her eyes locked onto his as soon as he got close enough. Her tiny body clung to his sleep shirt as tightly as an infant could. Which technically wasn't tight at all, but the act was very meaningful. It meant she was looking for him. His heart clamped down on this and suddenly he realized something with a small smile. "I'm a parent..." He chuckled, patting her back, kissing her crown and retrieving something from the cot she occupied.

"We have got to get out of here Penny. It's cramping us up. I'd love to find a place to live with a small room for you." It was true, right now he had a bachelor pad which consisted of a living room, a kitchen with just a small stove with two eyes rather than four. His fridge was tall enough to hit his shin. This wasn't good enough for someone who had a baby. There wasn't even a park. "House hunting, and well I'm going to have to get a new car too." He told her as he rocked her back and forth. She is four months old now. Growing up in a hospital wasn't ideal either.

"I need to..." He jumped as lightning hit close by. Penny jumped and cried out once again. John looked up at the window, the rain was hitting harder now and the wind rattled the window. "It's alright sweetie. No need to be scared when I'm around." Oh great as if she would actually understand what he was saying. She was an infant after all.

He sighed sitting back rubbing her tiny back with his rather large fingers. She slowly raised up off his chest for a moment and looked up at him and then set her head back down. John couldn't help but be amazed. She had done something other than lay on his chest.

"Hey...next thing I know you'll be running around." He chuckled as he rubbed her back again. The infant didn't make another attempt to raise her head, but she started to calm down a little.

A soft hum could be heard from the machine next to John. It was meant to check his vitals every 30 minutes. Since it was right next to Penny she cried out and started to wail this time.

John patted her back and did something he thought he would never do. He just didn't seem like the marrying or even child rearing type. He began to sing. Or rather try, John was tone deaf. He could dance though.

After a few minutes Penny was calmed down enough to fall asleep against her uncle's chest. Gadget yawned listening to the last bit of the rain as it faded.

Curling up and placing his niece in the crook of his arm securely, he too fell back asleep.